Machine for straightening tube-frames for axminster looms.



jaw V T. P. WALSH.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTBNING TUBE FRAMES FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS.

APPLICATION TILED 11111.20, 190a.

1,006,81 1. Patented 0613. 24, 1911.

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. T. P. WALSH. MACHINE FOB STRAIGHTENING TUBE FRAMES FOR AXMINSTER LOOKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1909. 1 ,OO6,81 1 Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

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.Zrz/vez'zion' i710 Elba/Zak coumuln PLANDORAPH MW/19111401074. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS P. WALSH, F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 WALSH-BAKER COR- PORATION, 0F PORTLAND,

MAIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

Application filed August 20, 1909. Serial No. 51,726.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. WALSH, a citizen of the United States, residin Boston, in the county of Suffolk and tate of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Straightening Tube- Frames for Axminster Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

In weaving such fabrics as Axminster carpets and the like, the tube frames which are used .in the looms in connection with the pattern spools are frequently injured in the process of weaving, some of the tubes being deflected more or less out of alinement with the rest of the tubes, some of the tubes dented at their edges or bent at their sides, and the free ends sometimes upset or jammed, and the present practice in such factories is to have each tube of the tube frame separately examined and straightened by a skilled mechanic by means of g'laand tools such as pliers, hand mandrels, dge, file, etc., this process being necessarilf, slow and expensive and also sometimes inaccurate. Accordingly to accomplish this work rapidly and also to bring the tube frames to that degree of accuracy necessary for use in connection with my spoolin and drawin -in machine, I have devise the mechanism herein set forth. These tube-frames are necessarily light and frail, comprisin a small slat-like carrier of wood, to whic is tacked a strip or a series of tubes, of light sheet-tin, arranged side by side, an average of 84 tubes to the foot, said tubes being each two inches long, sim ly soldered to utt ends at the .3

each other at their extreme point where they are tacked -to the wooden carrier or bar, and thence projecting free of each other and entirely unsupported excepting as stated at their butt ends, each tube belng 3 inch deep at its butt end, 1- inch deep at its free end, which has a wedgeshaped open interior of an inch across at the top edge and tapering down to of an inch at the op osite or bottom edge; so that great care and delicacy of handlin are necessary, and it has never heretofore een considered feasible to straighten them excepting by the hand of a skilled mechanic, as above statedl I have succeeded, however, in devistheir top surface at such jtube frame .handle.

ing mechanism which aftlidugh quick and strong, handles these delicate, thin-walled, rail, tapering tubes deftly, daintily and without any liability to injure them, and yet reforms them all together performing simultaneously both the alinin of the tubes, 2'. e., bringing them into lengt wise position, and the correct shaping of the tapering wedge-shaped walls, in case said walls have been dented, pinched, twisted, or in any way whatever distorted.

Stated in general terms my present machine comprises means for positioning and holding tube frames in an unvarying position while being straightened and adjusted, means for accurately alining all the tubes of the tube frame, and mechanism for straightening and truing the interior walls and edges of the respective tubes.

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 shows the same in end elevation; Fig. 3 is'an edge view looking forward against the alining tool; Fig. 3 is a side view and Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the straightener prongs or teeth of the forming tool;,and Flg. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modification.

On a suitable base 1 is a support for the tube frame, herein shown as comprising a luralit of supporting blocks 2, and in ront 0 these blocks is a transverse supporting bar or ledge 3 for supportin the tubes v4: of the tube g frame, the transverse wooden carrier portion 5 of said tube frame resting on said blocks 2, which accordingly have an angle with relation to the supporting surface of the bar as may be required by the'given kind of which the machine is desired to In the drawings I have shown the machine adapted to handle tube frames for the Smith loom, and accordingly said blocks are oblique or sloping whereas for the Orompton & Knowles tu e frames said top surface of the blocks would be level inasmuch as the tubes roject from the carrier portion arallel to t e atter in said Crompton & nowles construction. Positioning lugs or bosses 6, 7, are provided .to engage the o posits ends of the carrier frame wherey the tubes thereof are compelled to occupy invariably one and the same endwise position when ,laced; the machine, said I bosses 6 and 7 ein referably formed integrally with the e15 blocks 2 or at least secured immovably thereto so that no variation can ossibly take lace in positioning the tube rames. The locks 6 are preferably located in line with the opposite ends of the wooden portion or tube carrier part of the frame and the blocks 7 are preferably located to be en aged by the projecting ends 8 of the meta end portions or en "a shaper or former and compe the walls and top and bottom holders of the tube frame to age the said end holders and thereby enalfie the operator to see at a glance whether said end holders have been sprung and therefore need attention. On the intermediate blocks 2 I provide clampin mechanism,'herein shown as comprisin p ung-ers 9 sliding in bearings 10 and proui d with heads 11 to engage and press forward the wooden portion 5 of the tube frame against the front vertical wall of the bar 3, 'so that the tubes of the tube frame cannot possibly be deflected because of any spring or improper positioning of the carrier 5-. The clamping plungers 9 are normallyheld under tendency to move rearwardly by springs 12 engaging collars 13 and are actuated by the en agement with said plungers of the cam en s 14: of levers 15 pivote at 16 to the base 1. As herein shown there are three of these clamping mechanisms and they are referably operated independently so that the operator may with greater accuracy adjust the different portions of the tube frame. *The aliner, or tool which brings the sepa ate tubes into proper alinement with each ptherthroughout the length of the tube frame, moves preferably vertically above the tubes, being herein shown as comprising a transverse plate 17 provided on its under side with grooves corresponding accurately to the position of the tubes and approxlmately to the shapes of thetubes so as tol provide between said coves longitudinal ribs or fingers 18 whicii constitute means for entering between adjacent tubes and compelli them to get into proper alinement with eac other throughout the entire length of the tube frame Saw kerfs or slits 1 9 are preferably; provided in the bar 3 to receive the lower ends of these ribs or alinin devices 18, and the latter are also preferab y longer at their front ends than at their rear ends so that their lower edges are inclined as shown clearly in Fig}. 2, thereby facilitating ing or straightening-out operation which t are intended toperform. The late 1:7 is carried! by levels 20 preferably coated at its opposite ends, said: levers beingfaston a shaft 2 1 journalaed in bearings at the rear side of the. machine, horns or rests: 22 receiving and supporting-the levers 201aini. tic-1'75 vrhemnot'in use. Thelevens obstinate tube or 20:- tmimmate handles. 28, handles; be-

ing preferably so located as to pennit the operator to use both hands if necessary in forcing the alining plate downward over and between the tubes. In front of the tubes, so as to enter the enlar ed ends of the latter which are relatively xed in position and hence always in substantia ly their proper place, is the straightening and forming or shaping tool, which is very much like acomb, each tooth of which constitutes to enter within the tube edges of the tube, if bent, dented, twisted, or broken, to come back into proper shape as the shaper is forced forward a ainst said walls and edges of the tube. T is shaper or former comprises, in the machine of the drawin s, a transverse plate 24 from whose front e ge project a series of shaping teeth or formers 25 having the same external shape and relative arrangement as the true internal surface shape and arrangement of the tubes. Preferably the shaping teeth or formers 25 are lon er than the tubes and are provided with we ge shaped ends 26 which facilitate the entrance of the teeth into dented or distorted tubes and pass out beyond the ends of said tubes when the shaper has been given its complete forward movement, sons to true 11 the extreme edge of the tube ashvell as all t e remaining part of the tube. These teeth or formers 25 and their carrying plate 2A: are supported at their ends by end pieces 27 sliding in guideways and operated by end levers 28 pivoted at 29 to the frame of the machine and connected to said pieces 27 by any suitable means as by slots 30 engaged by pins 31 projecting rigidly from said end pieces 27.

I prefer to have each of the operating mechanisms of m apparatus independently operated by ban in order that the operator may use his: shill in bringin about the best results, and I have purpose y arranged the levers so that he can use both hands and can bringspecial pressure at one end or at the other asmay be required by any specially similar situation, but it will be understood that in this respect aswell as in the general construction of the apparatus, I am not limited to these pie ferred details as I believe that my invention is the first for accomplishing by an organized machine the results herein set forth, and accordingly lintend the claims to be commensurate with the invention as thus broadly characterized. I prefer to aline and strengthen all the tubes simultaneously but wish it understood that this, is a preferred construction only, and also I prefer to accomplish the alining by a movement transverse of the tubes, as distin uishedfor instance from a movement longitudinal of the tubes, and: I prefer to remove indentations and smooth out the side walls of the tubes by means of a wedgin form of expander, preferably moving longitudinally within the tubes, but in all these respects it will be understood that these are preferred constructions only and do not exclude other equivalent means within the scope of the broader of the claims hereinafter set forth. In use, the successive tube frames as they come from the loom are placed one at a time in the machine, some having only exceedingly slight distortion or defect and others eing very badly injured. The operator places the frame by hand so that its ends abut against the positioning bosses 6, 7 and the wooden carrier portion 5 of the frame occupies as nearly as practicable its normal position on the blocks 2 and against the bar Thereupon he grasps the handles 23 and swings the aliner forward and downward so that the relatively long rib-like fingers or knife-like members 18 can enter the spaces between adjacent tubes of the tube frame and thereby compel the tubes to get into proper alinement with each other. This is further facilitated by the fact that the members 18 are longer at their front ends are soldered together and hence much more liable to be in true position, and then the rear or following edge-portion of the members 18 wedge against the deflected side of the tube and tend to compel it to straighten out or get into alinement in case it is especially bent. Thereupon the operator forces the tube frame into absolutely true position by means of the handles 15. Having thus brought the various tubes of the tube frame into their true positions so far as alinement and general position are concerned, the shapers brought forward. The operator swings the levers 28 forward, by moving the former straight ahead, While the wedgeshaped ends 26 of the shaping devices or comb-like teeth or expanders 25 enter the large butt ends of the tubes and as they slide and wedge their way forward throu h the tubes they iron out or smooth out at and into proper shape the side walls and edges of the respective tubes. The shaping teeth 25 are preferably still enough to accomplish this straightening result themselves but their operation is materially facilitated by the aliners 18, and particularly so when the lower edges of said aliners are held in the grooves of the bar 3 as shown in Fig. 3 so that they are thereby stiffened and cannot possibly shift laterally. As the operator moves the shapers or expanders 25 of the former gradually forward they smooth out the relatively thin metal walls of the tubes (if necessary against the members 18, being thereby capable of straightening such tubes as otherwise would be particularly obstinate). Under ordinary circumstances however, as already stated, the wedge-shaped shapers or former teeth 25 will straighten and smooth out the inner walls of the tubes properly by simply being forced into the tubes, inasmuch as said shapers have the same external size and shape as the desired internal shape of the tubes. From the foregoing description it will be evident that by means of my apparatus the tube frames are quickly restored to their true shape and alinement ready for receiving the threads by my automatic threading machine. As already stated, the mechanism varies according to the particular kind of tube frame bein handled. For instance in Fig. 5 I have sfiown a variation thereof provided for the Crompton & Knowles tube In this tube frame the flat edge of the tube is on top and the thin edge at the bottom, being in this respect the reverse of the Smith tube frame previously mentioned, and accordingly instead of having the plate 17 provided with the alining ribs, I provide similar alining ribs 32 stationary on the bar 3, so that the plate 17 simply operates to engage the flat edges of the tubes and force the latter down over the stationary alining ribs 32.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. A machine for straightening loom tubeframes, comprising means for holdin the tube frame in a predetermined position, and cooperating alining mechanism movable relative to said tube-frame holder for bringing the tubes at all points from their extreme outer thin-walled ends to their buttends into their correct relative lengthwise positions in the frame.

2. A machine for straightening loom tubeframes, comprising means for holding in a predetermined position the tube frame and its thin-walled, flattened, tapering tubes, certain of which are distorted and are to be corrected, and cooperating alining means and operating mechanism therefor for simultaneously bending and reshaping the individual deflected walls of the distorted tubes into their correct lengthwise position in the frame.

3. A machine for straightening the thinwalled, tapering tubes of loom tube-frames, comprising means for fixedly clamping the tube-frame so as to leave the tubes projecting freely therefrom, and cooperatin mechamsm having means adapted to fit e normal interior of said tapering tubes for entering and reshaping distorted tubes while the frame is thus held.

4. A machine for straightening loom tubeframes, comprising means for holding the tube frame in a predetermined osition with its contiguous, thin, tapering, sldndenfreely frame.

'59 the tubes to straighten the deflected tubes bottomdengitudanal edge of the tn es,

amen means to move said two edge-engaging means toward each other to straighten the tubes edgewise.

12. In a machine for straightening loom tube frames, alining means to enter between the tubes to straighten the deflected tubes laterally, means to engage the top longitudinal edge of the tubes, means to engage the bottom longitudinal edge of the tubes, means to move said two edge-engaging means toward each other to straighten the tubes edgewise, and means to reform the walls of the tubes from within.

13. In a machine for straightening loom tube frames, alining means to enter between the tubes to straighten the deflected tubes laterally, means to engage the top longitudinal edge of the tubes, means to engage the bottom longitudinal edge of the tubes, means to move said two edge-engaging projecting tubes in fixed position to receive and be engaged by the alini-ng and shaping devices, and cofiperating devices for bending and alining the tubes to true lengthwise position in all directions while the frame is thus held and restoring the walls of said tubes to proper yarn-receiving shape and position.

5. In a machine for straightening the g; thin-walled, tapering tubes of loom tubeframes, means for supporting said frames, and a single forming device for each of said tubes, shaped to conform to the normal interior walls of said tubes when inserted therethrough to expand and restore to original shape the thin tapering wall of an indented or distorted tube, and operating means therefor.

6. In a machine for straightening the g thin-walled, tapering tubes of loom tubeframes, means for holdin such frames, and means toward each other to straighten the a single forming device or each tube havtubes edgewise, means to reform the walls ing' a fin er shaped to enter a tube, of a of the tubes from within, and means to shape an character to engage all portions clamp the tube frame while being reformed.

95, thereof for flattening out the indented and distorted internal wall surfaces of said tube and restoring the same to proper operative condition, and means for causing relative rectilinear movement between said forming an device and said tube in the exact direction with relation tothe tubaframe for alining 1 1. A machine for straightening loom tube-frames, having endwise positioning means whereby a tube frame is caused to occupy predetermined endwise position in the machine, combined with mechanism for straightening and re-forming tubes of the tube-frame.

the restored tube with the rest of the tubes 15. A machine for straightening loom of the frame, tube-frames, having sidewise positioning 7". In a machine for straightenmg loom means whereby a tube frame is caused to an tube frames, means for alining and straightening the tubes of the tube frame from distortion in any direction, andeperating mechstraightening and re-forming tubes of the anisna for relativel: -rnovi gsaid means and tube-frame. tube frame for e ecting said alining and 16. A machine for straightening loom eestraighmning. "tube-frames, having edgewise positioning 8. In a machine for straightening loom means whereby a tube-frame is caused to tube frames, alining means to enter between occupy a predetermined edgewise position the tubes to engage and thereby straighten in the machine, combined with mechanism deflected tubes from distortion in all difor straightening and re-forming tubes of rectiens,and operatin mechanism for effectthe tube-frame. ing the required relative movement between 17. A machine for straightening loom said means and said tubes.

7 tube-frames, having means to engage the end 9. In a machine for straightening loom holders of the tube-frame, combined with tube frames, alining means to enter between mechanism for straightening and re-forming the tubes of the tube-frame.

occupy a predetermined sidewise position in the machine, comblned with mechanism for laterally, and cooperating straightening 18. In a machine for straightening loom means to engage the top longitudinal edge tube frames, holdin means for holding a of the tubes. tube frame, inclu in'g pressure-applying means enabling the operator to bring special pressure at points Wherever desired throughout the length of the frame, combined with mechanism for strengthening and reforming the tubes of the tube frame.

19. In a machine for straightening loom tube frames, mechanism for straightening and reforming and bending the walls of the tubes of the tube frame, including pressureapplying means enabling the operator to brin special pressure adjacent one end of the rame.

1 6. In a machine for straightening loom tube frames, alining means to enter between the tubes to straighten the deflected tubes laterally, and cooperating straightening means to engage the bottom longitudinal edge of the tubes.

'11. In a machine for straightening loom tube frames, alining means to enter between the tubes to straighten the deflected tubes laterally, means to engage the top longitu edge of the tubes, means teen ge thg 20. In a machine for straightening loom tube frames, mechanism for straightening and reforming the tubes of the tube frame, including a member extending longitudinally of the tube frame, provided with a series of grooves accurately fitting a corresponding series of the tubes for receiving the individual tubes.

21. In a machine for straightening loom tube frames, mechanism for straightening and reforming the tubes of the tube frame, including a movable member extending 10ngitudinally of the tube frame, provided with a series of grooves accurately fitting a corresponding series of the tubes for receiving the individual tubes.

22. In a machine for straightening loom tube frames, mechanism for straightening and reforming the tubes of the tube frame, including a member extending longitudinally of the tube frame, provided with a series of grooves for receiving the individual tubes, and a series of knife-like straighteners for entering between the tubes.

23. A machine for straightening the long, thin-walled, contiguous, tapering tubes of loom tube frames, comprising forming mechanism and means for maintaining the tube frame at right angles to said forming mechanism, said forming mechanism including a former provided with a wedgeshaped expander capable of entering within said tubes and restoring distorted portions of the walls of said tubes to original true shape at any misshapen point in the length of the tubes, and means for relatively mov ing in the straightening operation said former and tube frame while maintaining the latter in its said right-angle position.

24. In a machine for straightening loom tube-frames, means for holding a frame, and a former provided with a tapering expander for entering within a tube, formed and of a length to engage all parts of the interior thereof simultaneously, and provided with a conical end for engaging and restoring the opposite edge of the free end of the tube, and means for relatively moving said former and tube-frame support in the straightening operation.

25. In a machine for restoring to original straight condition the long thin-walled contiguous tapering tubes of loom tube-frames, means for holding such frame, and a device shaped to conform to the normal interior walls of such tubes and having a conical portion arranged to engage and reform upset ends, and operating means therefor.

26. In a machine for restoring to original straight condition the long, thin-walled, contiguous, tapering tubes of a loom tube frame, a former, provided with deflecting means operating within the tubes from the butt ends of the tubes toward the small ends thereof, to aline and straighten the said tubes with relation to each other, and operating mechanism for relatively moving said deflecting means and said tubes in the correct path for said tubes with relation to the tube frame irrespective of the incorrect, deflected ositions which certain of said tubes or portions thereof occupy with relation to the tube frame at the beginning of said movement.

27. In a machine for restoring to original straight condition the long, thin-walled, contiguous, taperin tubes of a loom tube frame, a former, provided with deflecting means operating within the tubes from the butt ends of the tubes toward the small ends thereof, to aline and straighten the said tubes with relation to each other, operating mechanism for relatively moving said deflecting means and said tubes in the correct ath for said tubes with relation to the tube frame irrespective of the incorrect, deflected positions which certain of said tubes or portions thereof occupy with relation to the tube frame at the beginning of said movement, and external bracing means adapted to engage and sustain the said thin walls and to cooperate with said alining means in shaping a distorted tube.

28. A machine for reforming the tubes of loom tube frames, comprising a clamp for the tube frame arranged to leave the tubes free, means acting laterally on the exterior of the tubes, and means acting longitudinally on the interior of the tubes, for straightening and reforming the same.

29. A machine for reforming the tubes of loom tube frames, comprising a clamp for the tube frame arranged to leave the tubes free, re-alining mechanism arranged to act laterally upon the exterior of the tubes, and a reshaping former mounted to engage the interior of the tubes in a longitudinal movement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

M. J. SPALDING, WM. J. PIKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

